In February of 2021, the Trillium Network released a report on gender diversity in Ontario manufacturing. One of the conclusions of that report highlighted the importance of manufacturers having a diversified workforce. While having a culturally and gender-diversified workforce can and does provide long-term stability, the report also concluded that, in a post-pandemic world, “…manufacturers have a substantial amount of work to do when it comes to better engaging underrepresented demographics.” That report highlighted five companies that had found success in this effort. But how can other companies reach these goals?
In the new report, ‘Bridges, not Barriers: Advancing Racialized Women in Ontario Manufacturing‘, we provided actionable recommendations for manufacturing companies to advance their workforce diversity efforts. To develop these lessons, we interviewed three racialized women manufacturing business leaders to see what their paths to success looked like. Through conversations with Peng-Sang Cau of ATS Automation, Kathy Cheng of Redwood Classics Apparel, and Niru Somayajula of Sensor Technology Ltd., we compiled a list of 6 lessons other companies can learn from when building their workforce diversity development strategies.
As we continue to research and write about this subject, one thing is clear: companies that manage to find a way to engage with racialized women will have a competitive advantage over those that do not. Moreover, providing opportunities to advance in manufacturing has positive socioeconomic impacts on the communities that historically underrepresented groups exist in.
This podcast episode features Nick’s interview with three of the report’s authors, Eva Kwan, Shannon Miller, and Talissa Watson, wherein they discuss in detail the six lessons of the report:
Have a listen.